Reclining seat



5 Sheets-Sheet May 5, 1931. A. B. BELL I RECLINING SEAT Filed June 3, 1929 -A. B. BELL.

RECLINING SEAT May 5, 1931.

Filed June 3, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 4' ATTORNEY INVENTOR 'Patented Ma;- 5,1931

UNITED STATES PATENTor-Plca ALEBED E. BELL, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, AsSIeNoE, 'ro HALE a KIL- :BUEN oo., or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A` coIaPonA'rIoNl or DmwAEE RECLINING SEAT Application iled .Tune 3,

This invention relates to reclining seats, and more particularly to seats for use 1n^ra1l way'coaches, busses and tram cars, having al the passenger becomes weary if required to sit in al certain denite position throughout the len h of the journey. Vehicle seats can be ma e very much more comfort/able and restful if the back rest can be variouslyreclined in a variety of positions, as the passenger desires, so that he is not compelled to sit in one fixed position throughout the journey. To further increase the comfort of the passenger, the operative element for reclining the back rest Should be conveniently located and easily manipulated, so that. the back rest can be reclined in a variety of positions with the least eiort on the part of the passenger, and can be quickly and conveniently restored to upright position by the passonger or by a trainman.

The provision of seats having backs which may be adjusted to different inclinations is i not broadly novel.. However, reclining seats have been used to a very small extent for passenger transportation, for instance in railway or tram cars or automotive busses because of various objectionable features. For instance,

it is of utmost advantage, especially in interurban service, to provide as many seats asc possible in each car or bus. Heretofore reclining seats have required a large amount of space and have not been suitable for such use on account of the consequent reduction in the seating accommodations of the car or bus. Further, the reclining mechanism occupied considerable space under the seat, interfering with the installation of electric heaters under the seats and rendering it diicult to clean under the seat. A further objection has beeny that much of the reclining mechanism is ex.-

posed, thus having a tendency to collect dust and dirt, and soiling the clothes of passengers.

Further, the exposed parts ofteninterfere with passengers entering or leaving the seats. .Acordingly, a princlpal object of this 1n- 1929. Serial No. 367,902.

vention is to provide ay reclining seat which is vide a seat having a hinged back rest adapted to be adjustably reclined in a variety of reclining'positions, in asimple and convenient manner requiring a minimum of effort and providedwith means for adj ustably retaining the back rest in any one ofva number of inclined positions.

Another object of this invention is to provide reclining mechanisml for reclining seats, which is simple andl light in construction, which is easy to manipulate, and whi'chyis strong and lasting in service, and will withstand great abuse without getting' out of order. v l

Other objects of this invention will become evident as the disclosure proceeds. v

In accordance with my invention the seat back is hingedvat its lower edge to a suitable` adjusted inclination to the seatv back, this mechanism being readilydisengageable from the rack members by the assenger or by a trainman to permit the inc inationof the seat back to he altered. Means are also preferably provided which act to return the seat back to upright position when released, these means being also enclosed entirely within on'e of the arm rests. j v v In order that a clearer understanding of 4 my invention may be had, attention is hereby directed to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application and illustrating certain possible embodiments ofvmy invention. Y

Referring to the. drawings, Figure 1 is a i front elevational viewof a double vehicle seat having my novel reclining mechanism vassociated with the hinged back rest, certain parts being broken away to more clearly show certain features of the construction;

Figure 2 is a horizontal cross sectional vie`wof the individual back rest Figure 4 is a vertical cross sectional viewthrough the middle arm rest portion disposed between adjacent individual seat cushions, showing in particular the rack member and cooperating lug element therein positioned, the view being taken on line 4 4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view showing certain parts of the recliner mechanism hidden within one of the rest portions of the seat, this view being taken on line 5 5 of Figure 3; A

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view showing other parts of the recliner mechanism hidden within one of the arm rest portions, the View being taken on line 6 6 of Figure 3;

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view showing more particularly the push button device by means of which the inged back rest portion is mani ulated into the desired reclining-position, t e view beingtalzen online 7 7 of Fi re 3;

igure 8 is an enlarged ragmentary cross sectional view through one of the rack members and its'cooperating lug'element, the-view being taken on line 8 8 of Figure 3 and Fi re 9 is a fragmentary view of a modified orm of rack member which may be used in place of the rack members shown more particularly in Figures 3 and 4.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the' drawings.

Referring to the drawings, I have shown my back rest reclining mechanism associated with a double vehicle seat having a pair of individual seat cushions and apair of individual reclinable back rests, the seat having a dividing arm rest portion se arating the two individual seat cushions. derstood, however, that I contemplate using my seat back tilting mechanism with an double seats or seats for vehicle use. For purposes of illustration only therefor, I show a double seat having a seat cushion-supporting frame 10 supported on any suitable 'pedestal (not shown) A pair of individual spring lintermediate arm rest t willbe un- .23, i.all suita ly fitted, and secured t vassemblies 11 may be supported on the framel V 1y, as shown in Fig`ure 3, to 've a comfortable inclination to the seat cus ions supported thereon.

A wall portion 14 is secured along the rear 1 edge of the seat cushion supporting frame 10. Each of the individual back rest portionsk of 'the seat may be hinged at itsA lower edge, as

by hinge 15, to the wall member 14. The back rest portion of the seat may be of any suitable construction. lTo insure the greatest possible seating comfort, however, I preferably construct my back rest portion so as to present a concave body fitting cushion v surface. As shown more particularly in Figure 2, my back rest portionmay be of sheet metal construction comprisin a vertical plate portion 16, and curved si e plate portions 17, welded or otherwise secured thereto. An upper reenforcing piece 18 and-lower reenforcing piece 19, concealed within the upholste may be suitably secured to the outer edge o each of the curved side plates 17 to give stiness and strength to the back rest in general. The inner concave side of each back rest portion is heavily upholstered, and

the inside surface of the upholstering is preferably shaped to conform to the body, as shown in Fi re 2.

The double vehicle seat, shown in the drawings, is provided with a pair of end arm rest portions and an intermediate dividing arm rest portion separating the individual seat cushions. It is understood, however, that the portion may be eliminated and the reclinin erative to tilt both in 'vidual back rest portions simultaneously, or if the back rest portion of the double seat should be made of one piece, to tilt the entire unitary back rest portion.

It will be further understood that my re` clinmg mechanism may be associated with any form of arm rest portions, and is not limited solely to the articular arm rest construction sli'own in t e drawings. For purposes of illustration only therefore,I show in igure 3 an arm rest rtion of' hollow construction, with the rec 'ning mechanism hidden therewithin. The end arm rest portion, asv Y Shown, type of seat and do not limit myself to eitherv comprises aframework consistingof a front pon 20, a top armrest support 21 ofcomfortable sha a rear post 22, and a base piece et er.

inside cover late 24 preferably o metal and secured to t e framework, forms the inside wall of the arm rest, as shown more mechamsm made opclearly in Figure 2. Agroove 25 is around the inside edge of the framework to receive the out-side cover late 26 removably secured to the framework y means of screws 27. A hollow cavity is thus providedfin the arm rest ortion withinwhich certainparts of my reciining mechanism is positioned.

The end arm rest portion may be vertically supported ina sturdy manner by means of a pair of spaced vertical brackets. Each bracket comprises a foot portion 28 secured to the supporting frame 10f-fby any suitable means, such as screws 29, and an upwardly projecting portion 30 secured to the inside face of the end arm rest portion by suitable means, such as bolts 31,. c p

A journal block 32is positioned at each side edge of each individual back rest, and issecured as by screws 33 to the spaced ends of the upper and lower reenforcing pieces 18 and 19. A rod member 34 extends longitu-` dinally through the back rest and is provided at each end thereof with a shaft por,- tion 35, which extends through and is journalled within the journal block 32 fixed to the side edge of the back rest portion. The rod member, as shown in Figure 2, is curved so as to conform and to liev closely along the sheetl metal backing of the back rest portion. The rear side of the back rest upholstery 36 is spacedsomewhat from the rod member 34, and the upper end of each reenforcing iece 19 is spaced rom the lower end of reeniorcing piece 18, so as -to permit free swinging movement of the rod through a limited angle.

The upper end of the rear post member 22 terminates short of the rear end of the arm support member 21, so as to make. room for the shaft portion 35 and the mechanism thereto attached, as shown lmore clearly in Figures 1, 2 and 3.

The reclining mechanism located within each of the end arm rest portions of the seat w1ll no w be described. The outer end of the shaft portion 35, extending into the end arm rest portion of the seat, is ixedly connected to one end ofa rack member 37, so as to rotate together. vTherack member is preferablV of arcuate form, as shown in Fig` ure 3, an may be provided with a plurality of spaced notches 38 along the lower edge thereof. The notched rtion of thev rack member is adapted to se eetively engagev with a lug element properly positioned and fixed to the end arm rest portion of the seat. The lug element comprises an attaching portion 39, and a lug ortion 40, projectin laterally therefrom. y e lug element may be secured to the inner side plate 24 of the arm rest portion, by means of rivets 41, extending through the attaching portion 39 of the lug element, the inner'side plate 24 and a reenforcing and etiening plate 42, as shown more particularly in Figures 3 and 8. The 'latere y projecting lug portion ofthe lug element is thus adapted to cooperatively engage with the notches cut in the lower edge tion 44,'as shown more particularly in Fig-l ures 3 and 7.` The pushfbutton extends through a metallic cup vmemberp45 seated within a suitable hole cut through the arm rest support 21. To strengthen the arm rest support at this point, v,a U-shaped member having side walls 46 and a bottom wall 47 is provided. The U-shaped member saddles the arm support member, and is secured thereto, as by bolts 48. f The bottom wall 47 of the U-shaped strengthening member has a hole therein through which the stem portion 43y of the push button extends. IThe stem portion of the push button also slides within a guide collar 49 secured to the bottom wall 47.

An attaching plate 50, having aV stud element 51 projecting laterally therefrom, is secured to the inner side plate 24 of the arm rest portion by rivets 52', or other suitable means, as shown more particularly in Figures 3 and 6. A bell crank lever is pivotally mounted on the'stud element 51. The outer end of bell crank arm 52 yis forked and operatively engages a pin 53 extending throu h the forked end of the stem portion 43 of t e push button. Arm 54 of the bell crank lever.

is also forked at its outer end and engages a pin element 55 projecting laterally from a slide bar mounted on the inner 'side plate of the end, arm rest portion.

The slide bar comprises a pair of members 56 and 57, one of which is deformed and is spaced from the other at its mid-section, as shown in Figure 5. The slide bar is provided with an elongated aperture 58 at each end thereof. A stud element 59 secured to the inner'side plate 24 and reenforcing plate 60 projects thru each elongated slot. Each stud element is provided with a head portion 61 to sildabl retain the slide bar thereon. The free enfiof the rack member 37 is inserted between the spaced members 56 vand downwardly the bell crank member is rocked f' bers 56 and 57 of the slide bar.

end thereof to the arm portion 54 of the bell crank lever by means of a cotter pin which extends through the end of the guide rod and a collar portion 66 formed on one' side of the arm portion 54. The guide rod slides through a guide collar 67 formed on the attaching plate 50. An expansible coil spring 68 surrounding the guide rod is retained between the head portion 69 of the guide rod and the guide collar 67.. As is evident, this expansible spring normally operates to drawthe arm portion 54 of the bell crank lever downwardly to keep the rack member 37 seated against and engaged with the lugelement. When downward pressure is exerted on the uslvbutton, it operates against the expansi le spring 68 to raise the rack member out of engagement with the lug element. By means of this device it is seen that the inclination of the seat can only be changed by .manually operating the push button. vRoom is provided for the swinging movement of the rack member 37 by hollowing out a cavity in the end of the arm rest support 21, as shown in Figure 3.

.Driving means are also provided to' swing l the back rest forwardly when the rack mem-, `ber is disengaged from its lu element, and/or body ressure is remove from the seat back portlon. To this end, I provide a pinion 70 positioned between the spaced members 56 and 57 comprising the slide bar.

.. The pinion is fixed to a shaft 71 projecting through and journalled tothe s aced memhe free end of the lrack member is provided with a toothed portion 72 ada ted to mesh with the teeth of the pinion. stron clock ring 73 is wound upon one of t e projecting ends of the shaft 71, as shown more, particularly inE Figures 3 and 5. The inner end of the clock Spring is secured directly to the shaft 71, and

Li the outer end of the clock spring is secured to a suitable lug 74 projecting from the inner side of the arm rest portion.

Now it is seen thatswhen the back rest is swung backwardly, the rack portion'of the rack member rotates. the pinion clockwise, as shown in Fi and the cloc spring 73 are secured directly 'to the shaft 71, Aclockwise rotation of the pinion will operate toA wind up the` clock sprin This stored` energy is retained by the. c ook lifted out of engagement with its lug element. VllVhen this occurs-the, clock spring operates to rotate the pinion counter clockwise. drawingthe rack member downwardly gement with the luglre 3. Since both the pinion spring until the rack member is and Swingin the back rest portion forwardly. The sha 7l with its pinion 70 and the clock spring 73 is carried directly by the slide bar, so that the pinion is always in engagement with the toothed rack portioil 72 of therack member regardless of thev position of the slide bar or the rack member. The clock spring is, therefore, always ready to operate whenever the rack member is disengaged from its lug element and/or pressure is released from the back rest portion.

The intermediate arm rest portion may be 'constructed somewhat similar tothe end arm rest portions of the seat. The intermediate arm rest portion may comprise a framework 75 of wood having a side wall plate 76 detachably secured to each side thereof. Suitable brackets (not shown) may be provided. to rigidly secure the intermediate arm rest portion to the supporting frame 10.

To steady the back rest portion and to generally strengthen the construction, I preferably provide'a. rack member 77, such as shown in Figure 4, secured to the inner end of the rod member 34 and extending into the intermediate arm rest portion. ,The rack member 77 is fixedly secured at one end thereof to the shaft portion 35 of the rod member las heretofore described in connection with 'the rack member 37. The rack member is provided with theusual notches 78 "spaced along they lower edge thereof,y which are adapted to cooperatively engage with a lug element'secured to one of theside wall plates 76 of the intermediate arm rest portion. This lug element comprises a lug portion 79 and an attaching portion 80 secured to one of the side wall plates by means of rivets 81 extending through the attaching portion 8O of the lug element, the side wall late 76 and a stiffening plate 82. The back) rest is thus supported at both ends thereof. By this arrangement a strong construction is obtained. The nsh button mechanism, however, need only e provided in one of the arm rest portions, such as the end arm rest ortion as heretofore described. Manipulation of the -rack member 37 by means of the push button associated push button mechanism is housed 125 Within each end arm rest portion of the seat. The two rack members 77, one associated with each back rest portion of the seat, are both contained within. the common intermediatearm rest. A lug element, cooperating 13( the back rest porwith its corresponding rack member', is secured to the inside face of each side wall plate 76. Both side wall plates 76 are detachable from the intermediate arm rest framework 'so that accessmay be had to the reclining mechanism housed therein when I repairs are required. The outer side plate `26 associated with each of the end arm rest portions ofthe seat are made detachable for the same reason. Each arm rest support 2l may be padded, if desired, and covered with a suitable covering material.

Although I have shown for p urposes of illustration, the armrest portions of my seat as made up of a wooden framework with detachable side plates, it is understood that I also contemplate makingthe arm rest portions of the seat entirely of metal. For example, the end arm rests may comprise an inner metallic pan shaped member having iianged edges to which the outer side plate is detachably secured. The intermediate arm rest may comprise a pair of stamped metallic pan shaped members suitably secured togetherto form a hollowT lhousing to contain j parts of the reclining mechanism.

As a modied construction, I may substitute the rack member 83, shown in Figure 9, for the rack members heretofore described. In this construction, the notches along the lower edge of the rack member are so cut as to rovide an abutment wall 84 which limits the vbackward reclining movement of the back rest portion, and a cam portion 85 along which the lug element may ride when pres- When such rackmembers are used, it is seen that the maximum backward inclined position of the seat back portion is determined by the position of the lug portion 40 in reference to one of the abutment walls 84. The

Y means for holding the seat back portion ina certain inclined position have been eliminated, so that as soon as pressure is-removed from the back rest portion the same will swin forwardly.

It 1s now seen that I have provided a seat esplecially adapted for public conveyances, w

ch occuples comparatively little space and which yields the maximumcomfort to the passenger. The seat cushion is inclinedv at a comfortable angle and the back rest can be positioned in a variety of inclined positions. The occupant of the seat is, therefore, not forced to maintain a certain sitting position on lo eline himse f on the seat to obtain maximum comfort. The -reclining mechanism is all hidden within the arm rest portions and back rest portion of the seat where it is not only out ofthe way, but permits the seat to be given an attractive appearance. By thus concealing the reclining mechanism, the parts thereof can be maintained in better o erative i 55 condition and tampering therewith y medsure 1s removed from the back rest portion.

journeys, but may variously redlesome passengers is avoided. Further more, the push button by means of which the occupant tilts the back rest, is conveniently arranged in the arm rest, so that he is able to tllt the back rest scarcely without effort. The

tilting. mechanism is made of few parts, st'urdily constructed and easy to assemble.

.of said seat back portion, said means including a member hinged to said back rest portion at one end and having a toothed portion at the other end thereof, a inion mounted on ,said arm rest portion an adapted to operativelyengage the toothed portion of said member, and driving means associated with said pinion operative to swing said back rest portion forwardly when pressure yagainst said seat back portion. is removed. y v

2.. In combination with a seat having an arm rest portion and a hinged back rest portion, of means for adjusting the inclination of said seat back portion, said means including a member hinged to said backrest portion at one end and having a toothed portion at the other end thereof, a lug element adapted to operatively engage said member to retain said back .rest portion in the inclined position'to which it has been adjusted, a pinion mounted on said arm rest portion and adapted to operatively engage the toothed portion of said member, and resilient means associated with said pinion operative to swing said back rest portion forwardly when said member is disengaged from said lug.

3. In combination withv a seat having an arm rest portion and a hinged back rest pory tion, of means for adjusting the inclination of said back rest portion, said means including a member hinged to said `back rest portion at one end and having a toothed portion at the other end thereof, a lug element adapted to variously engage said member to retain said back rest portion in the inclined position to whichit has been adjusted, a bar slidably mounted on said arm rest portions and engaging said member, means for reciprocating said bar to move said member out of engagement with said lug, a pinion mounted on said bar and adapted to operatively en- -gage the toothed portion of said member,

' and resilient means associated with said pinion operative to swing said back rest portion at f. f

forwardly when said member isv disengaged from sai lug.

"1. In a chair having a pivoted back and an arm, in combination, a rack bar secured to the back, a positioning lug therefor mounted on the arm structure, said bar having a slot, a member slidably mounted on the arm `structure and .engaging in the slot of the bar, a bell crank lever pivoted on the arm struc- 10 ture and engaging said slidable member, and means, including a pushbutton having a stem engaging said bell crank lever, whereby depresslon of the pushbutton rocksl the bell crank lever to move said slidable member to disengage the rack bar from its lpositioning lug to permit adjustment of the inclination of the seat back.

5. In a chair having a pivoted back-and and arm, in combination, a rack bar secured so to the back, a positioning lug therefor mount# ed on the arm structure, said bar having a slot, a vmember slidably mounted on the arm structure and engaging in the slot -of the bar, a bell crank lever pivoted on the arm means, including a pushbutton having a stem engaging said bell crank lever, whereby depression of the pushbutton rocks the bell cr lever to move said slidable member to 80 disengage the rack lbar from its positioning lug to permit adjustment of the inclination of the seat back, and resilient means engaging said bell crank lever to restore the pushbutton to raised position and to move theslidable member to engage the rack bar with its positioning pawl.

6. In a chair having a' pivoted back and an arm, in combination, a rack bar secured to the back, a positioning lug therefor mounted on the. arm structure, said bar having a slot, a'member slidably mounted on the arm structure and engaging in the slot of the bar, a bell crank lever pivoted on the arm structure and en aging y,said slidable member, means2 including a pushbutton having a stem engaging said bell crank lever, whereby depression of the pushbutton rocks the bell -of the pushbutton rocks structure and engaging said slidable member, I

cluding a ushbutton having a stem' engaging said be crank lever, whereby depression the bell crank lever to move said slidable member to disengage" I the rack bar Vfrom its positioning lug to permit adjustment of the inclination of the seat back, resilient means engagin said bell crank. lever. to restore the pushutton to raised position and to move the slidable member to engage the rack bar with its position ing pawl, said rack bar having a -toothed portion, a pinion on the slidable member in constant mesh with said toothed portion, and

spring means associated with said pinion adapted to rotate said pinion to draw said rack bar forwardly when disengaged from its positionin lu J 1 This speci cation signed this 28th day of May, 1929.

4 ALFRED BELL.

lever to movesaid slidable member to dise the rack bar from its positioning lug to permit adjustment of the inclination of the seat back, said rack barl havin a 'toothed rtion, a pinion on the slida le member 1n constant mesh' with said toothed portion, and sp means associated with 55 said pinion adap to rotate said pinion to draw said rack bar forwardly when disengaged from its 'tioning lug.

7. In a chair aving a pivoted back and an arm the back, a positioning lu therefor mounted on the arm structure, sai bar having a slot,

a member slidably mounted on the arm struc' ture and engaging in the `slot of the bar, a bell in combination, a rack bar secured to cr lever pivoted on thel arm structure and said slidable member, means, in- 

